The Role of UN Documentation in Shaping Narratives at the International Criminal Court and the Implications for the Rights of the Accused

The International Criminal Court (icc) is an independent treaty-based international organisation acting in close cooperation with the United Nations (UN). To that end, organs of the Court have extensively relied on UN documentation in proceedings. These materials have been used to support grounds for the exercise of jurisdiction, demonstrate legal elements of crimes, and prove matters of fact. In recent practice, including in the situations of Palestine, Bangladesh/Myanmar, and Mali, UN materials have been used to establish legal and factual matters on the primary basis that they represent the ‘views of the international community’. This paper examines the ways in which Court organs rely on UN documentation in icc proceedings. It assesses the interplay of such information with rights of the accused. The paper concludes that in order to safeguard its credibility and the fairness of the proceedings, the Court should adopt specific guidelines relating to the evaluation of and admissibility of UN materials.

The BIMSTEC Free Trade Area

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional cooperation between Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Thailand since the liberalization of these economies. Member countries need to be more proactive for integrated regional cooperative hubs to enhance trade and investment opportunities in health and other sectors of the economy to cope with the pandemic and its impact. The aim of this chapter is to show how BIMSTEC, a regional cooperative body, can be a driver for socio-economic development, inter-regional trade, and investment opportunities for BIMSTEC countries and cope with COVID-19 and its impact. The BIMSTEC area is home to approximately 1.6 billion citizens accounting to 22% of the worlds inhabitants with a joint gross domestic product (GDP) of 2.7 trillion. Unemployment situation of ‘new poor' can be tackled through close cooperation among the BIMSTEC nations in an effective manner to achieve ‘pareto optimality' through trade and investment among member countries.

Polska w Układzie Warszawskim – realizacja zobowiązań

The Warsaw Pact created in 1955 for almost 40 years played an important role in maintaining international security. Poland, due to its military and economic potential, was the second largest member of this alliance. For this reason, it sought to ensure a real impact on its functioning, which was reflected in its active participation in the implementation of the provisions of the agreement on the political, military and economic levels. Poland's political activity was expressed in numerous initiatives to ensure peace and in active participation in international cooperation. Military commitments were implemented through the preparation of modern operational troops, from which a strategic and operational union was created in the form of a Maritime Front, ready to act as part of the United Armed Forces of the Warsaw Pact throughout the period of membership in this alliance. In turn, economic cooperation was manifested in close cooperation in the production of various weapon systems and military equipment, as well as the development of defense infrastructure for both own needs and allies.

On the Question of Islamization of Ugrian Population in Western Siberia from the sixteenth to early eighteenth centuries and Some Aspects of Study of This Process

Research objectives: The reconstruction of the features of Islamization of the Ugrian population in Western Siberia from the sixteenth to early eighteenth centuries and some controversial points in the research of this process. Research materials: The present study was based on the analysis of published sources: chronicles, memoirs, and archaeological as well as historiographical data. Results and novelty of the research: The penetration of world religions, including Islam, into the taiga and tundra zone of Western Siberia in the late Middle Ages and Early Modern period is a relevant though insufficiently studied line of research. It is directly related to the issues of including these territories into the Russian state. However, in most cases the limited written and archaeological sources, characterizing the process of adoption of Islam by the local population, have led to the discussion adopting the same stereotyped plotlines. Most often, research has looked to characterize various possible factors possibly influencing the process of Islamization led by the representatives of Sufi tariqas, acting in the territory of the Shibanids within the ulus of Jochi, the Tyumen and Siberian Khanate in particular. A significant strengthening of the Muslims’ influence and their activity’s expansion is only revealed in the case of the last one. This process is automatically related to the Ugrian principalities connected with the Khanate, most often not in critical terms. At the same time, the analysis of chronicles mostly shows very limited possibilities of Islamic preaching outside the territory of various groups of Siberian Tatars. In such cases, prea­ching influenced either the representatives of the Ugrian elite alone, or reflected the domestic partnership of the Ugrians with Tatars. Under these conditions, the emergence of new approaches, which O.N. Naumenko and E.A. Naumenko claim in their works, force us to carefully analyze the proposed methods, sources, and results of the study of Islam among the West Siberian Ugrians. The work done in this regard shows that during the period under consideration, the adoption of Islam among the representatives of any groups of the Ob Ugrians would have been isolated incidents. As a rule, such episodes were connected with the elite of this society that was in close cooperation with the aristocracies of the Siberian Khanate. Dwelling in an interconnected way with the Turkic-Tatar population played a great role in this as well. Moreover, after the entry of Western Siberia into the Russian state, the number of such cases did not increase. On the contrary, sources define the Ostyaks and the Voguls as pagans. It is in this context that Orthodox preaching began among them.

Editorial Comment on the Article by Mushkin M.A. et al. “Effect of Prehospital Pause on the Outcomes of Emergency Decompression and Stabilization Procedures in Patients with Tumor and Infectious Spine Diseases”

The editorial comment evaluates the current state of issue of medical care at urgent states caused by pathological vertebral fractures and spinal cord compression in patients with spine destructive diseases. The rare occurrence of pathology and the deficiency of objective data determine the lack of consensus on the medical care for this category of patients. The article by M.A. Mushkin et al helps to understand how the prehospital pause affects the outcomes of emergency decompression and stabilization procedures in patients with tumor and infectious diseases of the spine, as well as to determine how much time the surgeon has at his disposal. The author of the comment believes that close cooperation of orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, oncologists is necessary to solve this problem. Even despite the absence of oncologists in the staff of emergency hospitals, telemedicine allows to receive methodological support in a timely manner for making a correct decision for each patient. Interaction between clinicians, radiologists and pathologists is equally important. An important aspect is continuity in patient care. An urgently performed spinal cord decompression is only a stage of the complex treatment. Such patients should be provided with accurate routing depending on the diagnosis and the treatment early outcome.

European international financial organizations are investors in the real sector of Ukraine’s economy

The article highlights the historical aspects of Ukraine's cooperation with two international financial institutions, which provide Ukraine with significant credit resources: the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank. The structure of these institutions, the purpose of their work, means and methods of achieving the goals defined in the statutory documents were considered. The cooperation of Ukraine with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank on the implementation of investment projects in the public and private sectors was studied, the peculiarities of the project implementation were analysed and the factors that impact low disbursement were investigated. Attention is drawn to the importance of using investments from international financial organizations in full and the importance of further close cooperation with institutions that provide credit resources to Ukraine in periods when the state does not actively cooperate with the IMF. Generalised suggestions for improving Ukraine's cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank were prepared, separately for each bank, the steps that need to be taken to increase the disbursement of loans for investment projects implemented in Ukraine with international financial organizations were listed.

Magarach enochemical laboratory. Stages of development

Созданная в 1891 году Магарачская энохимическая лаборатория прошла долгий и насыщенный путь становления, в ходе которого были предопределены основные направления научной и практической деятельности всей виноградовинодельческой науки. На современном этапе лаборатория химии и биохимии Всероссийского национального научно-исследовательского института виноградарства и виноделия "Магарач" творчески решает насущные проблемы виноделия, базируясь на фундаментальных основах, заложенных предшествующими поколениями ученых. Усовершенствованная система технохимического контроля в виноделии постоянно развивается, насыщаясь новейшими разработками по контролю качества и безопасности винопродукции, созданию системы диагностики кристаллической стабильности виноматериалов и вин, новых методов анализа, проведенными лабораторией химии и биохимии вина в последнее время. Участие в заседаниях Комиссии Международной организации винограда и вина "SCMA Методы анализа" в формате видеоконференции и анализ нормативных документов, разрабатываемых экспертами винодельческих стран мирового сообщества, выводит работу лаборатории на международный уровень. Научно-практическая деятельность лаборатории химии и биохимии вина направлена на тесное сотрудничество с предприятиями отрасли и контролирующими организациями и основана на новейших научных достижениях, таких как методология идентификации образцов винопродукции и вспомогательных материалов, оценка их качества, подлинности и выявление фальсификации; система диагностики кристаллической и коллоидной стабильности виноматериалов и вин, выявления причин возникновения помутнений физико-химического характера, выдача рекомендаций по их устранению; энохимическая характеристика уникальности вин отдельных регионов; методическое обеспечение и аналитическое сопровождение технохимического контроля в виноделии; проведение научно-практических семинаров, курсов повышения квалификации и консультаций. Established in 1891, Magarach enochemical laboratory, has gone a long and eventful path of development, during which the main directions of scientific and practical activities of viticulture and winemaking in the whole were predetermined. At the present stage, the laboratory of chemistry and biochemistry of the All-Russian National Research Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking Magarach creatively solves current issues of winemaking, basing on fundamental principles laid down by previous generations of scientists. The system of technochemical control in winemaking is constantly growing, being saturated with the newest developments carried out in the laboratory of chemistry and biochemistry of wine in recent times: quality control and safety of wine products; creation of a system for diagnostics of crystalline stability of base wines and wines; new methods of analysis. Attendance at the Commission meetings of the International Organization of Vine and Wine "SCMA Methods of Analysis" in the videoconference format and the analysis of regulatory documents developed by experts of winemaking countries of international community bring the work of the laboratory to international level. The scientific and practical activity of the laboratory of chemistry and biochemistry of wine is aimed at close cooperation with industrial enterprises and regulatory organizations and is based on the latest scientific achievements: methodology for identifying samples of wine products and auxiliary materials, assessment of their quality, authenticity and detecting of falsification; a system for diagnosing crystalline and colloidal stability of base wines and wines, identifying sources of opacities of a physicochemical nature, issuing recommendations for their elimination; methodological and analytical support of technochemical control in winemaking; giving scientific and practical seminars, further education courses and consultations.

Responsible media technology and AI: challenges and research directions

The last two decades have witnessed major disruptions to the traditional media industry as a result of technological breakthroughs. New opportunities and challenges continue to arise, most recently as a result of the rapid advance and adoption of artificial intelligence technologies. On the one hand, the broad adoption of these technologies may introduce new opportunities for diversifying media offerings, fighting disinformation, and advancing data-driven journalism. On the other hand, techniques such as algorithmic content selection and user personalization can introduce risks and societal threats. The challenge of balancing these opportunities and benefits against their potential for negative impacts underscores the need for more research in responsible media technology. In this paper, we first describe the major challenges—both for societies and the media industry—that come with modern media technology. We then outline various places in the media production and dissemination chain, where research gaps exist, where better technical approaches are needed, and where technology must be designed in a way that can effectively support responsible editorial processes and principles. We argue that a comprehensive approach to research in responsible media technology, leveraging an interdisciplinary approach and a close cooperation between the media industry and academic institutions, is urgently needed.

Judicial protection service and its analogues: a comparative legal research

The article's relevance is because the Judicial Protection Service is a relatively new institution, the creation of which was completed last year. However, analogs of such a service operate successfully in different countries (in particular, the United States, Canada). Effective maintenance of law and order during the court hearing is one of the main elements of the reform processes of the judicial system of Ukraine, which must directly meet European standards. Because of this, the issue of research of this institution in Ukraine and the possibility of implementing best practices in the functioning of its counterparts in foreign countries is relevant. The purpose of the study was to determine the characteristics of the judicial protection service and its analogs in different countries. The object of the study is the public relations that arise in the field of security and independence of the judiciary. The subject of the study is the principles of functioning of the judicial protection service and its analogs. The methodological basis of the study is a set of general and unique methods of cognition, in particular: dialectical, historical, descriptive, methodology of scientific analysis, and generalization—comparative law, structural-functional and analytical. Analyzing the experience of foreign countries in organizing the activities of similar institutions of the Judicial Protection Service, it was emphasized the high level of trust of judges in such judicial protection services and the close cooperation of the latter with law enforcement agencies. The authors of the article also emphasize that the formation and operation of institutions as the Judicial Protection Service directly depend on financial support, organizational issues, and personnel policy.

The Enteric Nervous System and the Microenvironment of the Gut: The Translational Aspects of the Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis

The proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is essential for digestion, absorption and the elimination of waste products. It protects us against pathogens, allergens and toxins, continuously monitoring and regulating the internal environment. The vast majority of these tasks are carried out by the nervous and immune systems of the gut in close cooperation by constantly adapting to internal and external stimuli, maintaining its homeostasis. In this review, we would like to summarize the most recent findings about the cytoarchitecture and functional microanatomy of the enteric nervous system and the immune microenvironment of the gut highlighting the essential role and inevitable molecular crosstalk between these two highly organized networks. Gut neuroimmunology is a rapidly evolving field and might help us to understand the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease and the systemic consequences of chronic intestinal inflammation. Finally, we also included a brief outlook to present the most recent research depicting the multifaceted role of the gut microbiome, its contribution to the gut-brain axis and human disease.